3 days in Baltimore

Day by day

1. Day 1: National Aquarium and Historic Ships in Baltimore

   National Aquarium, Historic Ships in Baltimore and Port Discovery Children's Museum, then Oriole Park at Camden Yards in the evening.

   1. Morning

      National Aquarium

      Spread over two piers on the Inner Harbor, the aquarium's exhibits include Blacktip Reef with sharks and a green sea turtle, a rooftop Upland Tropical Rain Forest under a glass pyramid, the Australia gallery with a waterfall and a large jellyfish gallery.

   2. Late morning

      Historic Ships in Baltimore

      Buy a pass that covers several ships; the Torsk submarine's tight bunks are the highlight for children.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Steamed blue crabs

      Crab houses across the city and suburbs; the best season runs roughly from late spring to autumn, when local crabs are plentiful.

   4. Afternoon

      Port Discovery Children's Museum

      Three floors of hands-on exhibits for children up to about age 10, including a three-storey climbing structure, a pretend supermarket and diner, and water play.

   5. Evening

      Oriole Park at Camden Yards

      Walk along Eutaw Street inside the ballpark to find the home-run plaques, and try pit beef or crab fries from the stands.

2. Day 2: Fort McHenry National Monument and Baltimore Museum of Art

   Fort McHenry National Monument, Baltimore Museum of Art and American Visionary Art Museum, then Fells Point waterfront in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Fort McHenry National Monument

      Arrive by water taxi from the Inner Harbor or Fells Point in season, and ask about the timing of the flag-change programmes.

   2. Late morning

      Baltimore Museum of Art

      The BMA's free collection is centred on the Cone Collection assembled by sisters Claribel and Etta Cone, with hundreds of works by Henri Matisse alongside Picasso, Cézanne and Van Gogh.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Crab cakes

      Faidley's Seafood at Lexington Market is the classic; seafood restaurants in Fells Point and Federal Hill also serve them.

   4. Afternoon

      American Visionary Art Museum

      Visit in early May if you can, when the museum's Kinetic Sculpture Race sends human-powered art vehicles through the city and into the harbour.

   5. Evening

      Fells Point waterfront

      Arrive by water taxi from the Inner Harbor, and walk the harbour-side promenade east towards Canton.

3. Day 3: Federal Hill Park and Walters Art Museum

   Federal Hill Park, Walters Art Museum and Washington Monument, Mount Vernon Place, then Fells Point in the evening.

   1. Morning

      Federal Hill Park

      A steep grassy hill above the south shore of the Inner Harbor gives a panoramic view of the skyline, the aquarium and the boats below.

   2. Late morning

      Walters Art Museum

      Don't miss the Chamber of Wonders and the arms and armour galleries; combine with the Washington Monument across the square.

   3. Lunch

      Lunch: Maryland crab soup and cream of crab

      Most seafood restaurants and crab houses; ask for a 'half and half' to try both.

   4. Afternoon

      Washington Monument, Mount Vernon Place

      Begun in 1815, Robert Mills' marble column topped with a statue of George Washington was the first major monument in the country dedicated to him.

   5. Evening

      Fells Point

      Historic waterfront pubs, live music and late bars along Thames Street and Broadway.

Before you go

• National Aquarium: Timed-entry tickets are sold online and weekend slots can sell out in summer.

If it rains

• Swap in Lexington Market (Downtown West): Go at lunchtime for a crab cake from Faidley's and a Berger cookie for dessert.
• Swap in B&O Railroad Museum (Southwest Baltimore): Check the schedule for the short train ride, included with entry on most days, and look up at the roundhouse's roof.
• Swap in Maryland Science Center (Inner Harbor): Combine it with Federal Hill Park, just behind the building, for the harbour view.

Where to stay for this itinerary

With 3 nights, Inner Harbor keeps most of this route within easy reach. For a calmer or cheaper base, Harbor East ($$$$) suits luxury, couples and food lovers. Compare every area.

Pace and daylight

The sights in this plan add up to roughly 21–26 hours of visiting over 3 days, before meals and getting between them. Daylight runs from about 9.4 hours in December to 14.9 hours in June, so in winter start early and keep museums for the afternoon.

More or fewer days

• One day in Baltimore
• 2 days in Baltimore

Questions travellers ask